“Everyone seeks peace and harmony, because this is what we lack in our lives… Unhappiness permeates the atmosphere around someone who is miserable, and those who come in contact with such a person also become affected. Certainly this is not a skillful way to live.”

- The Art of Living – Vipassana Meditation

“When you meditate, the silence of the senses illumines the presence of God within.”

- Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

***

As you are reading this, I am already off to a 10-day silence retreat at the Dhama Meditation Center in Onalaska, Washington, USA. After waiting for two years hoping my name will be selected, I felt blessed to receive an email from the non-profit organization informing me that I have been enlisted  to experience this free course.

My purpose is to get my mind clear, to focus on my purpose, to feel my spirit. In the process, I am also channeling my energy on what I should like to write on my second book.

No computer, no phone, no TV, no outside world distractions. My routine, as sent by our coordinator, will be as follows:

About Vipassana

Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art of Living. For those who are not familiar with Vipassana Meditation, an Introduction to Vipassana by Mr. Goenka and Questions & Answers about Vipassana are available. The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.

There are no charges for the courses – not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit.* (http://www.dhama.org)

I’ll be back in 10-days!

The last tsunami I’ve seen in the news was seven years ago, when walls of seawater devastated the lovely resort beaches of Phuket, Thailand. I was there last year and saw the place restored to its glory. It’s hard to believe that it fell victim to a cataclysmic event just a day after Christmas.

Now, Japan gets a worser blow. The day started out sunny, and then an 8.9 magnitude earthquake, the fifth strongest recorded in world history, hit instantly. Things started to shake, fall, and crumble. A reporter said he was deafened by shrieking sounds every where and he hopes he will never hear again.  It’s heart-wrenching.

All around the world, people stopped to see videos of the tsunami and reports of the devastation. Twitter is buzzing with the hashtags #japan and #prayforjapan. To quote US President Barack Obama: “[This tragedy] reminds us that for all our differences in culture, language, religion, ultimately, humanity is ONE.”

Tsunami waves strike Japan by CNN_International

Now the captivating country is in a state of national emergency. I gasped seeing how the the tsunami swallowed the coast communities,  it seemed like a familiar apocalyptic movie but this time it was for real.

I was in Japan for speaking engagements three years ago and was hosted by a great friend Maritoni and her family. She even inspired us last Halloween to wear the country’s national costumes. (Thank God that after three days of no contact, I learned that she and her family are safe.)

Japanese Standard of Preparedness

Despite the tragedy and casualties, I am amazed at how impeccably prepared the Japanese are. Each year, citizens go through an earthquake drill, their buildings are designed to withstand ground shaking, emergency processes are in place.

There are precious lessons from this tragedy, and that is to be prepared. I’d like to share some earthquake and tsunami safety tips*:

• Heed Official Warnings: Play it safe, even if warnings seem ambiguous or you think the danger has passed.
• Abandon Belongings: Save your life, not your possessions.
• Head for High Ground and Stay There: Move uphill or at least inland, away from the coast.
• Don’t Count on the Roads: When fleeing a tsunami caused by a nearby earthquake, you may find roads broken or blocked.
• Go to an Upper Floor or Roof of a Building: Only if trapped and unable to reach high ground, go to an upper story of a sturdy building or get on its roof.
• Climb a Tree: As a last resort, climb up a strong tree if trapped on low ground.
• Climb onto Something that Floats: If swept up by a tsunami, look for something to use as a raft.
• Expect the Waves to Leave Debris: A tsunami will leave behind sand, the remains of houses, and vehicles.
• Expect Quakes to Lower Coastal Land: A large earthquake can leave nearby coastal areas lowered, allowing tidal water to flood them.
• Expect Company: Shelter your neighbors.

Lessons of the Earthquake and Tsunami

I pray that in the face of a tragedy, we may stand strong. Life is indeed fragile, our time to go can never be predicted.

This catastrophe somehow reminds us that life is meant to be cherished.

I’ll hug my family more, love them more, live more with passion and purpose.

*[Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1187/]